Marcus Wellington Murdock (Continued)
Venice Center Railroad Man
Marcus Wellington Murdock had a strong family legacy of railroad promotion for the potential benefit of Southern Cayuga County residents living between Cayuga Lake and Owasco Lake but at some remove from the lakeshore railroads along both. Marcus's father, Lyman Murdock, was considered the progenitor of the "Murdock Route" between several alternative locations in Tompkins County and the City of Auburn in Cayuga County and lived to see trains running from Freeville through Genoa, Venice Center, Scipio Summit, and Mapleton to Auburn. We find little evidence of Lyman Murdock's involvement in railroad promotion after 1879, but his goal of a railroad connection between Venice Center and Auburn was finally realized in 1881, presumably allowing him to rest upon his laurels until his death in 1888.
The Murdock Route Railroad Companies In The 1880s
With their father's death, Marcus and his older brother, Lyman T. Murdock, were positioned to step in as champions of railroad access to Southern Cayuga County via the Murdock Route. Their services would be needed in earnest beginning in 1891 when railroad operation through Venice Center ceased. Richard Palmer provides a synopsis of these events as follows.
The "Western Extension" [of the New York & Oswego Midland Railroad] was leased to the Utica, Ithaca & Elmira Railroad [UI&E] for operation and finally sold under a foreclosure of mortgage on May 31, 1876 to persons who organized the "Ithaca, Auburn & Western Railroad Co. [IA&W]." The UI&E Co. continued to operate the road until 1880, when the IA&W Co. took over operations with two second hand locomotives, the "Lyman Murdock" and "Charles P. Wood.". . . The IA&W was completed into Auburn in August, 1881. . . . The IA&W was leased to the Southern Central from April 1, 1883. . . . But the line because of lack of sufficient business could not pay for itself. In the fall of 1889, the road was sold to George M. Diven, of Elmira, an attorney, and counsel to the Lehigh Valley. Mr. Diven ordered an immediate suspension of operations which caused a furor of large proportions in communities between Freeville and Auburn. It was purported that Mr. Diven had been furnished the money by the Lehigh Valley and it was their intention to abandon it. Finally, Mr. Diven agreed to operate the portion between Auburn and Genoa for a one year trial and if it could not be made to pay, would be taken up. In November, 1889, tracks and bridges between Genoa and Freeville were taken up. Trains continued to run until January, 1891 and that spring the remainder of the tracks were taken up to just short of Auburn. . . .-- Richard Palmer, Thomas Tryniski (scan), Roger Post (transcriber), Rail Line Nicknamed For Early Venice Family (Auburn, Cayuga Co., NY, The Citizen-Advertiser, Wednesday, 30 April 1969), Old Fulton New York Post Cards https://www.fultonhistory.com
Lyman T. Murdock died in 1893; therefore, the years of long, hard work that followed to restore rail service to the Murdock Route were largely in the hands of Marcus W. Murdock with regard to local promotion for railroad construction.
Marcus Gets Involved
The first indication that we find concerning Marcus W. Murdock's involvement in promoting a renewed rail connection between Venice Center and larger population centers in Tompkins and Cayuga counties is his trip to New York City with a group of prominent men, largely politicians, to meet with officials of the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western (D. L. & W.) Railroad concerning the abandoned Murdock Route. The trip occurred in mid-December 1891, less than a year after the Murdock Route had been cleared of track.
On Tuesday last the following gentlemen left for New York city to hold a conference with D. L. & W. officials concerning the abandoned railroad: Auburn, Ex-Mayor Wheeler; Scipio, Geo. S. Wood, John Snyder, alternate; Venice, M. W. Murdock; Genoa, E. B. Whitten; Lansing, Frank H. Tarbell and Andrew Brink; Ithaca, Major Tarbell. . . .
-- Thomas Tryniski (scan), Roger Post (transcriber), County of Cayuga. News From the Several Towns 3 (Auburn, Cayuga Co., NY, The Auburn Argus, Friday, 18 December 1891), Old Fulton New York Post Cards https://www.fultonhistory.com
The details of the New York City meeting are not apparent, but it may have been a pitch by Marcus and others of Cayuga and Tompkins counties for the D. L. & W. to extend its line to Ithaca northward to Auburn on the Murdock Route. The meeting must have failed to motivate the D. L. & W. for nothing seems to have happened for the next 8 years.
New York, Auburn & Lansing Railroad Company (The Short Line)
Marcus W. Murdock of Venice Center was listed as a Director of the New York, Auburn & Lansing (N. Y., A. & L.) Railroad Company incorporated in March 1900. He owned five shares of capital stock at $100/share. Charles Avery Morgan of Merrifield, and John Snyder of Scipio likewise were Directors and holders of five shares each, among other Southern Cayuga men. As shown below, the company proposed to build a railroad between Auburn, Cayuga Co., New York and the Town of Lansing, Tompkins Co., New York. This route, largely on the old "Murdock Line" grade, would become known as "The Short Line" by the public.
Certificate of Incorporation. STATE OF NEW YORK, COUNTY OF CAYUGA. } ss. We, the undersigned, desiring to form a Railroad Corporation pursuant to the provision of the Railroad Law . . . do hereby CERTIFY: FIRST: The name of the proposed corporation is the New York, Auburn & Lansing Railroad Company. . . . FOURTH: The termini of said road shall be at a point of the New York Central Railroad, in the town of Aurelius, in the county of Cayuga, and the town of Lansing in the county of Tompkins. And the length of said proposed road is about twenty-five miles. . . . SIXTH: The amount of capital stock is the sum of Four Hundred Thousand Dollars. SEVENTH: The number of shares into which the capital stock is to be divided is 4,000 shares, of $100.00 each. EIGHTH: The names and postoffice addresses of the Directors of the corporation who shall manage its affairs for the first year are as follows. . . . M. W. Murdock, Venice Centre, N. Y. C. A. Morgan, Merrifield, N. Y. . . . John Snyder, Scipio, N. Y. . . . TENTH: The name and postoffice address of each subscriber to this certificate, and the number of shares of stock he agrees to take, are as follows. . . . J. H. Murdock, Venice Centre, N. Y. Five; M. W. Murdock, Venice Centre, N. Y., Five . . . C. A. Morgan, Merrifield, N. Y. Five; C. S. Pease, Mapleton, N. Y. Five; John Snyder, Scipio, N. Y. Five. . . . George Slocum, Genoa, N. Y., Five. . . . [NOTE: Certificate notarized by three Notaries between 8 March 1900 and 12 March 1900 (not transcribed here) - R. A. Post]"
-- Thomas Tryniski (scan), Roger Post (transcriber), Certificate of Incorporation 2 (Genoa, Cayuga Co., NY, The Genoa Tribune, Friday, 8 June 1900), Old Fulton New York Post Cards https://www.fultonhistory.com
The new Railroad Corporation provided at least an appearance of local control by Marcus and his contemporaries; however, the wealthy investors who took up the remainder of the $400,000 in capital stock and also became Directors would surely be the real control over the corporation. It appears that all involved in the incorporation of the new railroad company thought that approval and construction would occur quickly. N. Y., A. & L. Railroad Company President M. W. Conklin met with Marcus and others in April 1900.
M. W. Conklin, of New York, president of the New York, Auburn & Lansing railroad, is in the city for a few days, in consultation with Supervisor M. W. Murdock, of Venice, and many other people who are interested in the construction of the road. President Conklin, in conversation with a reporter, spoke in a confident manner of the prospects of success for the road. "We propose to build our line from a point connecting with the New York Central tracks West of this city to North Lansing, a distance of about 25 miles in all. All arrangements have been completed for the construction of the road, except the obtaining of the consent of the State railroad commissioners. We will make the effort to obtain that consent in a few days. . . ."
-- Thomas Tryniski (scan), Roger Post (transcriber), News Of The State. . . . Auburn To North Lansing (Genoa, Cayuga Co., NY, The Genoa Tribune, Friday, 20 April 1900), Old Fulton New York Post Cards https://www.fultonhistory.com
Approval for the project did not move as quickly as anticipated. It wasn't until July 1900 that officials in Albany would take up the case, which Marcus traveled to attend.
M. W. Murdock started on Monday for Albany to be present at the meeting of the railroad commissioners and the promoters of the proposed railroad, after which we shall doubtless soon know what our destiny is.
-- Thomas Tryniski (scan), Roger Post (transcriber), The County Events. . . . Venice Center. July 10 (Genoa, Cayuga Co., NY, The Genoa Tribune, Friday, 13 July 1900), Old Fulton New York Post Cards https://www.fultonhistory.com
Nearly another year would pass before the N. Y., A. & L. Railroad Company was reorganized in an attempt to move toward actual construction. Marcus W. Murdock eventually would become President and Charles A. Morgan Secretary.
The second meeting within a few days of the Board of Directors of the New York, Auburn & Lansing Railroad company was held to-day. The first meeting was held in New York a week ago yesterday and aside from the New York parties interested, E. Clarence Aiken, of this city, was also present. At that time Directors Smith, Schipper and Bowne resigned and State Senator Wilcox was elected to fill one of the vacancies. President Conklin, of the road, was not present, he being in Mexico. It is understood that when he returns he will also withdraw. At to-day's meeting a re-organization was effected, that is, nearly a re-organization, all offices except that of president being filled. The following were present: E. Clarence Aiken, Senator Benjamin M. Wilcox, State Treasurer John P. Jaeckel, Thomas A. McCrea, all of this city, Supervisor M. W. Murdock, of Venice, John Snyder and Charles A. Morgan, of Scipio. Mr. Murdock was made chairman of the meeting and, it is expected, he will succeed Mr. Conklin as president. Then Messrs. Aiken and Jaeckel were elected to membership in the Board and the following officers were chosen: Vice president--Benjamin M. Wilcox. Secretary--Charles A. Morgan. Treasurer--John P. Jaeckel. A meeting of the stockholders was authorized for June 28 at which time a new Board of Directors will be chosen. * It will be remembered that when this company was first formed the State Railroad commission was brought here to listen to the testimony of farmers as to what a great help to the county the road would be and later the franchise was granted. The road, however, has never been built but one of the directors said to-day it was the intention to go ahead with the construction. The company is capitalized at $400,000.-- Thomas Tryniski (scan), Roger Post (transcriber), The Genoa Railroad. Directors Met Here To-day and Practically Effected a Reorganization (Auburn, Cayuga Co., NY, The Auburn Bulletin, Saturday, 8 June 1901), Old Fulton New York Post Cards https://www.fultonhistory.com
The N. Y., A. & L. Directors appointed Marcus W. Murdock and Charles A. Morgan as a committee to secure rights-of-way for the railroad in early July 1901 by paying for deeded right-of-way with stock at the rate of $3,000 per mile as the preferred arrangement (1). By fall of that year, Marcus was providing tours over the old Murdock Route roadbed to interested parties from New York City, possibly potential investors (2). Marcus next met with the Chief Engineer of the New York Central Railroad, a Mr. Wilgus, in March 1902 to discuss their potential cooperation in construction of the N. Y., A. & L. and use of the Murdock Route to provide the New York Central access to Ithaca, Tompkins Co., New York (3).
Construction still had not started on the N. Y., A. & L. by May 1903, but negotiation for a construction contract appeared to be concluded successfully that month (4). Two months later, Marcus and other Directors of the N. Y., A. & L. met with the Auburn Business Men's Association to elicit their support in fundraising for acquisition of the necessary railroad rights-of-way. Marcus, by then President of the N. Y., A. & L., was spokesperson for the railroad (5). Marcus also seems to have been the chief worker securing subscriptions to fund right-of-way purchase, a task that was incomplete in August 1903 (6). Later that month, Marcus thought that construction work probably would start in September (7), but November 1903 found him in the Town of Lansing, Tompkins Co., New York still working on acquiring rights-of-way from landowners (8).
Progress must have been agonizingly slow to supporters of N. Y., A. & L. Railroad Company through 1904 and most of 1905. We learn nothing of Marcus's work during this time until he drove the first spike for the new line at Pinckney's crossing near Auburn on 4 October 1905.
The first spike in the New York, Auburn & Lansing railroad was driven Wednesday afternoon by Captain M. Wellington Murdock. The Auburn Advertiser says that the initial spike was sunk into the wood by the captain a 4 o'clock at Pinckney's crossing about a mile and a half south of the Genesee street road and was witnessed by several of his fellow townsmen and others interested in the road. Among those who were present were Dr. Dudley, of Genoa, John Bruton, Superintendent of the Poor Hewitt, Mr. Pease, of Fleming, Charles Morgan and Frank Tarbell, of North Lansing. Mr. Morgan drove in the second spike and Mr. Tarbell drove the third one.-- Thomas Tryniski (scan), Roger Post (transcriber), First Spike Driven Home (Union Springs, Springport, Cayuga Co., NY, Union Springs Advertiser, Thursday, 5 October 1905), Old Fulton New York Post Cards https://www.fultonhistory.com
The location of Pinckney's Crossing isn't immediately apparent from the preceding description. Possibly the point in question was on present-day Pinckney Road where several Pinckney residences appear on the 1904 Aurelius map in Lot 63. This point is only a mile from Genesee Street Road, at variance with the distance given in the newspaper account, but does lie on the barely visible former route of the N. Y., A. & L. near Auburn.
We should also note that the second spike was driven by Charles Avery Morgan of Merrifield in the Town of Scipio, who presumably still served as Secretary of the N. Y., A. & L. Railroad Company. Mr. Pease from the Town of Fleming probably refers to C. Stanley Pease, earlier identified as one of the original shareholders in the Railroad Company. Dr. Dudley of Genoa was, or had been, Town Supervisor of Genoa and was a fellow Civil War veteran with Captain Murdock.
With the first spike for the N. Y., A. & L. driven, Marcus could look forward in anticipation to the eventual completion of the railroad through Venice Center, linking the hamlet to larger population centers as it had been 14 years before. Perhaps this explains why during the summer of 1906 he set about restoring the Murdock family buildings associated with the old railroad station at Venice Center (9). We can speculate that Marcus saw the possibility of renewed commercial activity linked to the coming railroad, for which his properties could prove a source of revenue.
In fact, the N. Y., A. & L. did arrive at Venice Center by late November 1906. Marcus held a large dinner at the Murdock Homestead for prominent Auburn men in celebration of the event (10). Two months later, Captain Murdock hosted a large party and midnight luncheon at Venice Center when the first excursion train came out from Auburn. This was thoroughly in the tradition set by Marcus's father nearly 35 years before when the old New York & Oswego Midland Railroad arrived in Venice Center from Freeville, Tompkins Co., New York, albeit from the opposite direction.
The first excursion run over the new Auburn & Lansing railroad, left here last night, and went to Venice Center, returning this morning at 3 o'clock. The excursion train consisted of two box cars, nicely fitted up on the interior for the occasion, and the excursionists were the local employes of the road and their men and women friends to the number of sixty. When the excursion train arrived at Venice Center there was a large crowd to meet the visitors. The crowd marched to the Town hall singing songs on the way. The party danced until the early hours of the morning, an Auburn orchestra furnishing the music. During the intermission at midnight the dancers repaired to the home of Captain M. Wellington Murdock, who has worked so long and hard to get a road from the south end of the county to Auburn. A tempting luncheon was served to over one hundred guests.-- Thomas Tryniski (scan), Roger Post (transcriber), Captain Murdock Was Host (Auburn, Cayuga Co., NY, Auburn Semi-Weekly Journal, Tuesday, 22 January 1907), Old Fulton New York Post Cards https://www.fultonhistory.com
Nearly two more years would pass before the N. Y., A. & L. would reach completion by connecting to the short electric trolley line running over the steep grade from Ithaca, Tompkins Co., New York to South Lansing in the Town of Lansing, Tompkins Co. This allowed service between Auburn and Ithaca largely on the route of the old Murdock Line of 1852, which had never been completed but had been partially reused by the New York & Oswego Midland, eventually connecting Auburn and Freeville in 1881. Once again, Marcus played an important ceremonial role when he drove the silver "last spike."
As announced last week, the laying of the rails for the New York, Auburn & Lansing railroad was completed last Friday, and the last spike, a silver one, was driven on Saturday by Capt. M. W. Murdock of Venice Center, who also drove the first spike in the railroad in September, 1906. Capt Murdock has been one of the most interested and hardest working promoters of the road for several years past. About 60 witnessed the interesting event. It is the intention of the company to operate the new road as a trolley line between Ithaca and South Lansing, and transfer passengers to the steam road operating between South Lansing and Auburn. . . . The Ithaca News of Saturday said: 'The trip from this city to the Esty farm, almost directly across the lake from Glenwood, was made this morning in the private car of the Ithaca Street Railway Company. . . . The car was brought to a standstill at 10:45 o'clock on the Esty farm. A short walk along the rails brought the guests to the point where the last spike was to be driven. . . . As the Ithacans were walking along the track the passenger train from Auburn bearing the other officials and guests hove into sight. . . . Aboard the passenger coach was . . . Mr. and Mrs. Morgan of Merrifield . . . Captain M W. Murdock . . . and E. C. Aiken, former mayor of Auburn. . . .-- Thomas Tryniski (scan), Roger Post (transcriber), Village and Vicinity News. . . . Auburn to Ithaca (Genoa, Cayuga Co., NY, The Genoa Tribune, Friday, 18 December 1908), Old Fulton New York Post Cards https://www.fultonhistory.com
Getting to the silver spike ceremony was the culmination of Captain Marcus Wellington Murdock's efforts to replay his father's work to obtain rail service through the lands between Cayuga and Owasco lakes, roughly following the direction of the Big Salmon Creek drainage. With regard to the N. Y., A. & L. Railroad Company:
The completed line did have an electrified portion, using trolley wires, from the terminus near State Street in Ithaca (the waiting room was on the. . .site of the [former] First National Bank), north along Tioga Street, past Percy Field (where the Ithaca High School is today) and Renwick Park (Stewart Park), up the hill, parallel to and just below today’s Route 13, and as far as its junction with the Murdock Line at South Lansing—about seven miles north of Ithaca, and just south of the junction of the Midland grade at Ozmun’s. This use of electric power did not represent so much the progessive spirit of the company as the inability of the steam locomotives to climb the steep grade out of Ithaca. Once at South Lansing, passengers changed to a steam train to take them on to Auburn. . . . The Auburn-South Lansing portion was completed first, and freight operations between these two points began March 1, 1908, passenger service starting in June. On December 12, 1908, the entire line was officially opened with a silver spike ceremony at Esty Glen; passenger service between Ithaca and Auburn commenced January 1, 1909. Freight came on and off line at Remington, near Renwick Park, where there was an interchange track with the Lehigh Valley’s Auburn & Ithaca Branch.
-- Hardy C. Lee, revised and expanded by Winton G. Rossiter and John Marcham, A History of Railroads in Tompkins County, 3rd Edition (Ithaca, Tompkins Co., New York, DeWitt Historical Society, The History Center in Tompkins County, 2008), https://hdl.handle.net/1813/11518, Chapter 7 - The D. L. & W. and the Short Line; pp. 51-53
Esty Glen, mentioned above as the site of the silver spike ceremony, apparently was on the electric trolley line and not at the actual terminus of the steam portion of the N. Y., A. & L. at South Lansing so it is not clear why that particular point was chosen.
Marcus W. Murdock apparently served as the Station Agent for the N. Y., A. & L. at Venice Center for some time prior to ca. May 1910 when George Crofoot was appointed in an acting capacity. George stepped down on 1 May 1911 at which time Marcus resumed his Station Agent duties (11). It is not clear why Marcus did not serve as Station Agent during the time of Mr. Crofoot's temporary appointment, but Marcus did suffer a severe "bilious attack" in September 1910, possibly indicating poor health (12). It is also possible that Marcus's duties as Venice Town Supervisor in 1909 and 1910 did not permit him to simultaneously serve as Station Agent, particularly during the last two months of each year when the Board of Supervisors met in Auburn.
How much longer Marcus was able to work as Station Agent at Venice is not known. He was hospitalized at Auburn for an extended period in April and May of 1912 (13) but seems to have recovered by late June when an agricultural meeting was held at his farm (14). Marcus was again seriously ill in February 1913 but at least partially recovered by early March (15). His final illness occurred in July 1913 after returning from a reunion of the 111th Infantry Regiment, New York Volunteers at Gettysburg Battlefield in Pennsylvania and ended with his death on the 23rd of that month (16) (17).
Central New York Southern Railroad Company (The Short Line)
The N. Y., A. & L. Railroad Company (popularly known as the Short Line), suffered a financial collapse in 1912.
The Short Line itself was, of course, in direct competition with the Lehigh Valley’s Auburn & Ithaca Branch. The through freight business rested squarely in the Lehigh’s domain: most cars coming through Ithaca rolled on Lehigh rails and accordingly stayed on them to Auburn; furthermore, the Short Line’s meagre two-car limit up the grarde to South Lansing prohibited all but local shipments. But competition for passengers was much keener. Although the Short Line boasted the shortest distance between Ithaca and Auburn (this was how the road acquired its nickname), running time on both lines was about 1:45. . . . The Short Line, with the additional problem of frequent operating difficulties (especially in winter, when snow would freeze movements for days), had nothing to hold it up, and it soon collapsed. The line went into receivership in 1912 and in 1914 was reorganized as the Central New York Southern Railroad Company, owned by bondholders. Despite all this, it was still the same Short Line, in substance as well as informal name: the personnel from the previous company was retained, along with all the problems involved in the first collapse.
-- Hardy C. Lee, revised and expanded by Winton G. Rossiter and John Marcham, A History of Railroads in Tompkins County, 3rd Edition (Ithaca, Tompkins Co., New York, DeWitt Historical Society, The History Center in Tompkins County, 2008), https://hdl.handle.net/1813/11518, Chapter 7 - The D. L. & W. and the Short Line; p. 54
Marcus W. Murdock would have experienced the collapse of the N. Y., A., & L. and probably suffered financial losses as a result. We don't have any insight into how Marcus reacted to this setback, but his obituary describes a man with no regrets for the nearly 20 years of work that he invested in obtaining renewed railroad service on the old Murdock Route for the benefit of Southern Cayuga County.
In the death of Marcus Wellington Murdock, Southern Cayuga county has lost one of its oldest and most prominent residents. He was born and always lived in the town of Venice, having occupied the house where he was born, at Venice Center, his entire life, except the years which he spent in the army. For many years, he was one of the most active figures in the business and politcal life in his home town. When the civil war called forth the young men of the country, Murdock was one of the first to respond in Cayuga county, and with John Porter White of Moravia, organized Co. I, of the 111th New York Volunteer Infantry, which went to the front with Murdock as first lieutenant. Later he was advanced to the rank of captain of Company A and later was transferred to Company G. His ability as an officer and his fearlessness and valor as a soldier won for him a place among those whose names appear prominently in the history of that great struggle. With the 111th, Captain Murdock participated in most of the battles in which that regiment engaged, and although wounded, he recovered and at the close of the war came home to enter into business with his father, then a produce buyer and farmer of Venice Center. Mr. Murdock served the town of Venice as supervisor for thirteen years and was chairman of the Board in 1909. Failing health forced forced him to decline another term. In politic[s] he was a loyal Republican and took a great interest in the affiars of his party, town, state and nation. Naturally a student, he was always familiar with various questions of government and his advice was sought by many on subjects relating to the welfare of the community. Captain Murdock was of an active disposition and was always prominent in all undertakings for public improvements. At the time of the construction of the New York, Auburn & Lansing railway several years ago, he worked unceasingly to bring about the construction of the road and from his own private resources contributed much money toward the enterprise. This money was lost. He had no regrets, however, and when the first passenger train was eventually run over the road, he declared that he was satisfied that a great good would result to the people in the country through which the road passes. An account of the funeral of Capt. Murdock is given by our Venice Center correspondent in another column. The members of Seward-Crocker Post, G. A. R., of Auburn, of which the captain was a member, attended the funeral in a body. The service was conducted by Commander Woodall.
-- Thomas Tryniski (scan), Roger Post (transcriber), Captain M. W. Murdock (Genoa, Cayuga Co., NY, The Genoa Tribune, Friday, 1 August 1913), Old Fulton New York Post Cards https://www.fultonhistory.com
To be continued.
Sources
(1) Thomas Tryniski (scan), Roger Post (transcriber), Around the State. . . . The Railroad Meeting (Genoa, Cayuga Co., NY, The Genoa Tribune, Friday, 5 July 1901), Old Fulton New York Post Cards https://www.fultonhistory.com, "The directors, or several of them, of the New York, Auburn & Lansing railroad company held a meeting in the law office of E. C. Aiken Friday afternoon. . . . M. W. Murdock and C. A. Morgan were appointed a committee to secure the rights of way, and it is stated that they prefer deeds rather than options, paying the land owners in stock at the rate of $3,000 per mile. . . ."
(2) Thomas Tryniski (scan), Roger Post (transcriber), County and Vicinity. . . . Venice Center--West Hill. Cortland, Oct. 13 (Genoa, Cayuga Co., NY, The Genoa Tribune, Friday, 25 October 1901), Old Fulton New York Post Cards https://www.fultonhistory.com, "During a recent ride to and from Auburn we more than ever realized the loss of our railroad, but in the midst of our lamentations, the cheering news comes that 'a couple of new men from New York City in company with our indefatigable supervisor, M. W. Murdock, have taken a trip over the roadbed and report encouraging progress toward its restoration.'. . ."
(3) Thomas Tryniski (scan), Roger Post (transcriber), In Black And White. Central Will Agree to Build a New Station Within Three Years. Chief Engineer Wilgus Came to Auburn in His Private Car Wednesday (Auburn, Cayuga Co., NY, Auburn Democrat-Argus, Friday, 14 March 1902), Old Fulton New York Post Cards https://www.fultonhistory.com, "Following his conference with the city officials Mr. Wilgus had a talk with Supervisor M. W. Murdock, of Venice, and E. Clarence Aiken relative to the New York, Auburn & Lansing railway, well known as the Genoa railroad. For a year or more those interested in that company have been corresponding and conferring with Central officials to secure that company's co-operation in the construction of the proposed line and its use by the Central for entrance into Ithaca. . . ."
(4) Thomas Tryniski (scan), Roger Post (transcriber), The Railroad Situation (Genoa, Cayuga Co., NY, The Genoa Tribune, Friday, 8 May 1903), Old Fulton New York Post Cards https://www.fultonhistory.com, "A large delegation of representative men from Lansing, Genoa and Scipio again visited Auburn last Saturday in the interests of the Murdock line railroad. . . . and announced that three objections to the Carr contract had been raised and if these were accepted by Mr. Carr then the company was ready to sign the contract. . . . Mr. Wood of Ithaca, who was in attendance as the representative of Mr. Carr, said the three objections were fair and would without doubt be readily accepted, and a contract, corrected as above set forth, was mailed to Mr. Carr Saturday evening. Among those in attendance at this meeting were . . . M. W. Murdock, J. H. Murdock and Supervisor Mosher of Venice . . . E. S. Aikin, John Snyder, C. A. Morgan . . . of Scipio . . . Attorneys Aikin . . . E. B. Whitten . . . and several others from Auburn. . . ."
(5) Thomas Tryniski (scan), Roger Post (transcriber), Auburn to Ithaca (Genoa, Cayuga Co., NY, The Genoa Tribune, Friday, 24 July 1903), Old Fulton New York Post Cards https://www.fultonhistory.com, "There was an important meeting Friday afternoon in the rooms of the Business Men's association of the members of the railroad committee and the board of directors called to meet Messrs. Craig & Cann of Philadelphia, promoters of the New York, Auburn & Lansing railroad and the Auburn & Ithaca trolley road. There were present . . . E. C. Aiken . . . and M. W. Murdock who appeared for the railroad. The object of the meeting was to secure the co-operation of the Business Men's association in raising funds to procure a right of way for the road through to Ithaca. . . ."
(6) Thomas Tryniski (scan), Roger Post (transcriber), Auburn, August 12 (Genoa, Cayuga Co., NY, The Genoa Tribune, Friday, 14 August 1903), Old Fulton New York Post Cards https://www.fultonhistory.com, "Said the Bulletin of the 6th: 'President Murdock, of the Genoa road, claims that he was misquoted in reference to the conditions which exist in last evening's issue of the Bulletin. . . . There seems to be a misunderstanding among the promoters of the road, for Mr. Murdock now says that the right of way has not been secured and he is busy securing necessary subscriptions to secure the right of way.'. . ."
(7) Thomas Tryniski (scan), Roger Post (transcriber), The Genoa Road (Auburn, Cayuga Co., NY, Auburn Democrat-Argus, Tuesday, 25 August 1903), Old Fulton New York Post Cards https://www.fultonhistory.com, "The map of the proposed route of the New York, Auburn & Lansing railroad from this city to Ithaca through Genoa, was filed in the county clerk's office Saturday a. m. Captain M. W. Murdock, of Venice, president of the company, is in town to-day and he said that construction, in all probability would commence next month and he further stated that he didn't believe any condemnation proceedings would be necessary to secure rights of way."
(8) Thomas Tryniski (scan), Roger Post (transcriber), The Village Notes 2 (Genoa, Cayuga Co., NY, The Genoa Tribune, Friday, 6 November 1903), Old Fulton New York Post Cards https://www.fultonhistory.com, "M. W. Murdock was in town Monday. He is understood to be securing rights of way in Lansing this week. . . ."
(9) Thomas Tryniski (scan), Roger Post (transcriber), The Village News 8 (Genoa, Cayuga Co., NY, The Genoa Tribune, Friday, 10 August 1906), Old Fulton New York Post Cards https://www.fultonhistory.com, "It is reported that M. W. Murdock has commenced extensive repairs on the buildings formerly used as store houses, etc., near the old railroad station at Venice Center. . . ."
(10) Thomas Tryniski (scan), Roger Post (transcriber), In Nearby Towns. - Venice Center. . . . Nov. 21 (Auburn, Cayuga Co., NY, Auburn Weekly Bulletin, Friday, 23 November 1906), Old Fulton New York Post Cards https://www.fultonhistory.com, "M. W. Murdock gave a dinner to a number of the prominent men of Auburn at his home in this place Friday last in celebration of the completion of the N. Y., A. & L. railroad to this town. . . . There is great rejoicing among the people in this place and surrounding country at the coming of the railroad. . . . Much gratitude is due Mr. Murdock and others who have labored so assiduously and in the face of so great difficulties to bring this blessing to the people of this town. . . ."
(11) Thomas Tryniski (scan), Roger Post (transcriber), Poplar Ridge Reviews. . . . Poplar Ridge, April 24 (Auburn, Cayuga Co., NY, Auburn Semi-Weekly Journal, Tuesday, 25 April 1911), Old Fulton New York Post Cards https://www.fultonhistory.com, "George Crofoot, who for the past year has been acting station agent of the N. Y., A. & L. at Venice, has severed his connections with the company and his resignation will take effect May 1. Captain M. W. Murdock, the regular agent will assume the duties at the station at that time. . . ."
(12) Thomas Tryniski (scan), Roger Post (transcriber), Captain Murdock Improving (Auburn, Cayuga Co., NY, The Auburn Citizen, Saturday, 3 September 1910), Old Fulton New York Post Cards https://www.fultonhistory.com, "Captain M. W. Murdock, who was taken ill at the home of Sheriff Jesse E. Ferris Thursday night with a bilious attack, on returning from the funeral of J. Manning Fink at Cato, is gradually recovering. He was able to sit up for a while today, but was not well enough to return to his home in Venice."
(13) Thomas Tryniski (scan), Roger Post (transcriber), From Nearby Towns. . . . Venice Center. April 29 (Genoa, Cayuga Co., NY, The Genoa Tribune, Friday, 3 May 1912), Old Fulton New York Post Cards http://www.fultonhistory.com, "Capt. M. W. Murdock, who has been so very ill for some time at the hospital in Auburn, is said to be slightly improved. . . . Mrs. William Crouch of Richmond, Va., is spending some time in town and in Auburn, having been called here on account of the serious illness of her father, M. W. Murdock. The son, Stanley of Cleveland, Ohio, has also been here the past week, having been called the second time. . . ."
(14) Thomas Tryniski (scan), Roger Post (transcriber), From Nearby Towns. . . . At Venice Center, June 28 (Genoa, Cayuga Co., NY, The Genoa Tribune, Friday, 14 June 1912), Old Fulton New York Post Cards https://www.fultonhistory.com, "One of the series of summer meetings for which the commissioner of agriculture has arranged, and which supplements the regular Farmers' Institute work, will be held on the farm of Captain M. W. Murdock and in the hall at Venice Center, on Friday, June 28. . . ."
(15) Thomas Tryniski (scan), Roger Post (transcriber), From Nearby Towns. . . . Venice Center. March 3 (Genoa, Cayuga Co., NY, The Genoa Tribune, Friday, 7 March 1913), Old Fulton New York Post Cards https://www.fultonhistory.com, "M. W. Murdock is able to be out again after his recent sickness. . . ."
(16) Thomas Tryniski (scan), Roger Post (transcriber), Village and Vicinity News 13 (Genoa, Cayuga Co., NY, The Genoa Tribune, Friday, 18 July 1913), Old Fulton New York Post Cards https://www.fultonhistory.com, "Capt. M. W. Murdock of Venice Center has been very ill since his return from the Gettysburg reunion. Miss Anna Bush has been caring for him at his home, and Wedneday evening he was brought to L. Allen's in this place to be cared for. . . ."
(17) Thomas Tryniski (scan), Roger Post (transcriber), Captain Murdock Dying (Auburn, Cayuga Co., NY, The Auburn Citizen, Wednesday, 23 July 1913), Old Fulton New York Post Cards https://www.fultonhistory.com, "Capt. M. W. Murdock of the town of Venice, one of the best known and most highly respected citizens of the South part of Cayuga County, is reported as being at death's door this afternoon and his demise is only a matter of hours. Captain Murdock attended the Gettysburg veterans reunion early this month and it is said that on account of his feeble health and advanced age the trip and discomforts of the intense heat and camp life led to his present illness. Captain Murdock during his career has been an active man. He enlisted with the famous One Hundred Eleventh New York Regiment in the Civil War, served the county as supervisor and officiated as chairman of that Board. He was active in promoting the I. A. & W. and the Short Line through the Southwestern part of the county and was prominent in many other projects."
